Braided brake line standards

[Ixion]

It's up to YOU ,the owner to prove beyond doubt that they comply - if you send the AVI off to do that job he can charge you for his time,it's not part of the WoF fee.All he has to say is it doesn't comply,then the job is in your hands - make sure they comply before you fit them.

Vehicles get a 12 mth WoF for 6 years after manufacter,it used to be only NZ new,but they have changed that to first rego anywhere.

Problem is, how do you prove it. I think that a lot of WOF testers have just adopted a "Braided lines are illegal" not being as clued up as Mr Motu.

And even if have DOT xxx stamped all over them , the tester probably doesn't have a clue what that means. All he knows is that braided lines are illegal.

If you get them from somewhere like Motohaus, they will be kosher, and Motohaus know that, so they'll give you a warrant OK. But what about in a couple of years time when you (or the guy you've sold the bike to) needs to go to another WOF agent. They don't know the history, but they do know that braided lines are illegal.

It's the same as lenses for lights, most testers just know that if it has letters stamped in it it's OK , otherwise it's illegal. The letters would say WANKER , but that'd be fine, 'cos it's got letters.

[vifferman]

How do I know that the replacement pipes I'm going to shell out on are better than the stock ones I have now? Just under constant heavy braking, they've had a bit of brake fade.

Then that's the pads, not the lines. All the lines do is eliminate some lever travel, if the stock lines have some give (flex) in them.

When I changed to braided lines on the VTR, it gave me less lever travel, good feel, and consistency. Putting new pads in as well gave me some extra bite, improved feel, and a headache. But that's another (sad) story.

[Motu]

Problem is, how do you prove it. I think that a lot of WOF testers have just adopted a "Braided lines are illegal" not being as clued up as Mr Motu.

And even if have DOT xxx stamped all over them , the tester probably doesn't have a clue what that means. All he knows is that braided lines are illegal.

If you get them from somewhere like Motohaus, they will be kosher, and Motohaus know that, so they'll give you a warrant OK. But what about in a couple of years time when you (or the guy you've sold the bike to) needs to go to another WOF agent. They don't know the history, but they do know that braided lines are illegal.

It's the same as lenses for lights, most testers just know that if it has letters stamped in it it's OK , otherwise it's illegal. The letters would say WANKER , but that'd be fine, 'cos it's got letters.

Paper trails,paper trails,we are being trained to cover our arse with paper trails....follow the paper trail to the guy who will take the blame and pay the costs from his pocket.If you haven't got the piece of paper that absolves you and puts the blame on someone else you are in deep poo doo.If ever you get braided hoses keep the recept and make sure they write to what standard the hoses comply - wave it under the inspectors nose and you will fly through....he will note he has seen your piece of paper on his own piece of paper...and so the trail goes...whoever looses one part of the trail takes ALL the blame.So be it in this new age of no responsability.

[bugjuice]

Then that's the pads, not the lines. All the lines do is eliminate some lever travel, if the stock lines have some give (flex) in them.

When I changed to braided lines on the VTR, it gave me less lever travel, good feel, and consistency. Putting new pads in as well gave me some extra bite, improved feel, and a headache. But that's another (sad) story.

ok, I kinda miss-explained that. The lines aren't the reason for the fade, I know that, and I don't think the rubber lines have much give at the moment, altho I can notice a little bit. I just want to increase the feedback from the brakes and reduce the movement a bit more. Pads are the first and best way to go, but braided lines can help too. When the brakes heat up, I've seen the rubber react to that as the heat is coming up from the fluid. It isn't a common thing, just something I wanted to change. Plus, they still look sexy

[SPman]

Paper trails,paper trails,we are being trained to cover our arse with paper trails....follow the paper trail to the guy who will take the blame and pay the costs from his pocket.If you haven't got the piece of paper that absolves you and puts the blame on someone else you are in deep poo doo.If ever you get braided hoses keep the recept and make sure they write to what standard the hoses comply - wave it under the inspectors nose and you will fly through....he will note he has seen your piece of paper on his own piece of paper...and so the trail goes...whoever looses one part of the trail takes ALL the blame.So be it in this new age of no responsability.

sheesh - sounds just like the New World Order in Building Inspections!

[TwoSeven]

ok, I kinda miss-explained that. The lines aren't the reason for the fade, I know that, and I don't think the rubber lines have much give at the moment, altho I can notice a little bit. I just want to increase the feedback from the brakes and reduce the movement a bit more. Pads are the first and best way to go, but braided lines can help too. When the brakes heat up, I've seen the rubber react to that as the heat is coming up from the fluid. It isn't a common thing, just something I wanted to change. Plus, they still look sexy

If you want to change lever travel (and yours isnt really adjustable), then you need to change the ratio to a higher one - basically less travel for the same amount of fluid pumped. Likewise, moving to a smaller diameter carbon hose will also help (over a braided rubber hose)- smaller diameter means less fluid required to be pumped and also higher cooling.

Finally, change your pads to a thicker unit - it will require less travel, so again you dont need to pump so much fluid.

[pete376403]

My self-made hoses (components bought from British Motorcycle Spares) were excellent as far as operation went, but illegal. I replaced them with Fren Tubo hoses bought from Lawtons (?) in Adelaide Rd - they have the correct markings and have passed two warrants, both at VTNZ. The testers checked the hose markings, but apart from that never said anything. I don't believe the Fren Tubos are any better than the ones I made, but they do have the magic numbers.

[pritch]

I see that the Galfer hoses comply with the following:
SAEJ 1401
UNE 26-399-89
ISO 3996

I hope that means something to somebody because it means sod-all to me.

[Uncle B]

I got a set of HEL braided lines.....did a search first to see if they are legal here...came up with www.engalert.co.nz who say that HEL are LTSA approved.
Good enough for me.

[zadok]

Re: WOF. Believe it or not, Western Australia does not have WOF's. As long as you keep your vehicle registered and don't get pulled up by a cop, you can get away with riding/driving the most dangerous bucket of bolts on the road.
When you buy a vehicle you have to be really careful what you choose and either pay to get it inspected, get someone that knows what to look for to check it for you, or take a risk.
Therefore in some ways I like the idea of WOF's, but not if they are going to be too picky.

Marty